Erith & Belvedere               2          Ruddy 2

South East Command      4          Geldard 2, Gallacher, Preskett

Friendly, 30 May 1942

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, the remarkable side that visited us to round off our greatest season*.

 

The description of 1941-42 as our greatest has to have an asterisk, because in all fairness it can’t be compared to any peacetime season.  The circumstances of wartime football had seen us retain our players as they were engaged in important war work while other teams had been affected by call-ups.  We steamrollered the league, dropping a single point, and won two cups into the bargain, while making hay in friendlies against various Forces sides, even those who featured guest players who had been professionals in peacetime.

 

However, the South East Command team that faced us for the last match of the season was of a different order entirely.  This was the line-up, including six full internationals:

 

Albert Gray (Chester and Wales).  6ft 3, a giant at the time, won the Southern League with Ebbw Vale before spending four seasons with Oldham, then won the Second Division title with Manchester City in 1927-28.  Went on to spend five seasons at Tranmere, winning the Welsh Cup (!) in 1935.  Made 24 appearances for Wales from 1924-38, winning the British Championship three times.  Captained Wales v Scotland at Wrexham in 1931.

Worthington (Manchester City)

Bert Sproston (Manchester City and England).  11 caps for England, 140 appearances for Leeds United and 125 for Manchester City from 1933-1950.

Cliff Britton (Everton and England). 9 England caps, 242 appearances for Everton, won the Cup with them in 1933 and was reputedly Dixie Dean’s favourite crosser of the ball. Went on to manage Burnley in the 1947 FA Cup Final v Charlton and got Everton to the First Division in the 50s.

J Johnson (Aldershot)

E Marshall (Sheffield United)

Albert Geldard (Bolton Wanderers and England).  On 16 September 1929 Geldard had played for Bradford Park Avenue at Millwall aged 15 years and 158 days, which remained a record for the youngest League player until 2008.  He won the FA Cup with Everton in 1933 alongside Britton, and won 4 England caps.

J Wilson (Brighton)

Patsy Gallacher (Sunderland and Scotland).  Played for Scotland and scored in a 2-1 away defeat to Northern Ireland in 1934.  Played for Sunderland in the 1937 FA Cup Final. 

Fred Preskett (Plymouth Argyle).  35 games for Torquay, the war ended his league career at the age of 23.

Arthur Cunliffe (Aston Villa and England). 2 caps for England in 1932 v Ireland and Wales while at Blackburn, where he scored 55 goals in 140 games.

 

Due to the shortage of space in the wartime newspaper, there isn’t a match report, just the following notes by secretary John Bell:

 

“We brought the most successful season in the club history to a close on Saturday when we entertained a very strong South-Eastern Command XI, and in losing 4-2 were defeated at home for the first time since March 9, 1940, during which period we have played 64 home games, winning 60 and drawing four. 

 

“Incidentally this was our first defeat by a Services side.  Our visitors played very good football, as was only to be expected from a side containing four international players [he possibly missed Gallacher and Cunliffe], their ball control and positional play being a pleasure to watch.  They have asked for another game, which will probably be arranged for early next season.

 

“As these will be my last notes for a few weeks, I wish to thank the Editor for publishing these notes every week and to supporters for rallying round during a very difficult period.”

 

Deres: George Barron; Bill Kitchener, Pat O’Hara; Stan Aldous, Stan Randle, Tom Jenner; Len Scott, Bob Collins, Martin Ruddy, Harold Gurr, Jack Urpeth.

 

The Army side duly visited again on 3 October 1942, this time boasting three more England internationals:

 

Jimmy Hagan (361 apps and 117 goals for Sheffield United, and went on to manage Eusebio’s Benfica from 1970-73);

 

Stan Cullis (152 apps for Wolves and went on to manage them to three titles and two FA Cups 1948-64);

 

Denis Compton (went on to win the FA Cup with Arsenal in 1950 and play 78 Test cricket matches for England). 

 

However it finished 0-0 with what was described as a “rather small attendance”!